Frequently Asked Questions

EVENT UPDATE: Due to predicted inclement weather, the Dallas Festival of Ideas has moved inside to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center downtown. The entire event will be held in Section A of the convention center. The Dallas Book Festival will continue as planned in the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library and a shuttle will run all day between the two events.

The event is free and open to the public. Come one, come all! There are costs associated with parking as well as for food and beverages.

What is the dress code?

Saturday is supposed to be rainy, so come dressed to stay dry when arriving at the Festival or shuttling to the Dallas Book Festival. Please be aware the buildings tend to be chilly, so think about throwing in a sweater if you get cold easily.

Can I take DART?

Yes – in fact, we encourage it! DART is definitely the best way to get to the Convention Center and stay out of the weather! You can take the Red or Blue Line to the Convention Center Station. Check out the DART website for more details.

Where do I park and how much does it cost?

There are many public lots and paid parking options nearby in downtown Dallas. This website is a great resource for assessing all your parking options.

You do not need to bring anything with you to the festival. We will have two informational kiosks in Section A should you need any assistance or have any questions.

Where is the Box Office ?

We will NOT have a box office however we will have informational kiosks located in Section A of the convention center.

Can I come and go? Is re-entry allowed?

Yes, you may come and go as you please.

Will there be food and beverages?

Yes! We will be selling concessions in a food court in the Lobby of Section A for lunch and dinner. At 4:00pm beer and wine will be available for purchase in the Beer Garden in the Section A Ballroom.

What is the collaboration with the Dallas Book Festival?

For the first time this year, the Dallas Festival of Ideas is collocating with the Dallas Book Festival in downtown Dallas. The two festivals will share programming for a morning keynote session (11:00 am to 12:45 pm) and closing keynote addresses (5:00 to 5:45 pm). Both of these sessions will occur at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Ballroom A. They will also be simulcast live in O’Hara Hall at the J. Erik Jonssen Central Library. During the rest of the day, talks and events hosted by the Dallas Book Festival and the Dallas Festival of Ideas will happen simultaneously at their 2 separate locations. There will be a shuttle provided between the library and the convention center for attendees who would like to experience sessions at both festivals. You can check out the full event schedule for the Dallas Festival of Ideas here.

What Items Am I Allowed To Bring?

Small bags and backpacks are allowed.

What Items Am I Not Allowed To Bring?

Outside food is not allowed at the convention center. Chairs, signs, anything that could be considered a weapon of any kind (gun, knife, large stick, projectiles, etc.), graffiti pens or spray paint. Use good judgement here…we reserve the right to disallow any other items we deem inappropriate, dangerous or inconvenient to other people attending the event.

What is The Dallas Festival of Ideas?

The Dallas Festival of Ideas is a collaboration between The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture and The Dallas Morning News. Now in its third year, the Festival brings together both experts and citizens to discuss and debate how we can make Dallas a better place, this year through the lens of the Equitable City.

What are the ‘City Tracks’?

Each year, we select five themes — or City Tracks — that we explore with keynote speakers and panel discussions. This year’s tracks will ask how Dallas can become a more Educated City, Healthy City, Physical City, Cultural City and Entrepreneurial City – all through the lens of equity. In addition, The Hub brings the Festival themes to life with local entertainment, non-profit organizations and community partners that support the City Tracks. These partners engage with attendees through interactive programming such as games, demonstrations, exhibits and other creative activations.

Where can I learn more about this event?

Right here on the Dallas Festival of Ideas website and the Dallas Book Festival website are great places to start. The Dallas Morning News has also produced some really insightful pieces about the Festival and its impact on the city of Dallas. Check out this Guide to both festivals, an Overview of the art, music, and dance at the Festival, Profiles of the keynote speakers, Action that has resulted from the last two years of the Festival, an Overview of the Dallas Book Festival, and Robert Wilonsky’s Essay about his love for Dallas.